You better believe it is. If change is imminent, get it out of the way so you can focus on the one thing every president, administrator and coach publicly says doesn't happen, but is the foundation of mid-season firings in college football.

One way or another, coaches will find a way - yes, in the heart of the season -- to let USC know they're interested. And vice-versa.

For every coach who says he's focusing on the job he has; for every administrator who says he won't contact coaches during the season, I give you this:

"I've already had two friends of mine, current coaches at BCS schools, call me and ask about USC," a former Trojans assistant under Pete Carroll told Sporting News. "This is the way it works in our fraternity."

So when Haden says firing Kiffin now allows USC to get an early start on the process, what he's saying is it allows potential candidates to do their own legwork on USC and make their intentions known. Potential candidates talk to friends and colleagues in the business; men and women who have direct, detailed knowledge of the inner workings of the job.

These things just don't happen in December when jobs are opening and closing by the hour, and when schools want decisions from potential candidates now. That fluid postseason scenario leads to numerous bad hires because snap, emotional calls replace rational, researched decisions.

That's how Kiffin ended up at USC in the first place. Pete Carroll left for the NFL, and after USC AD Mike Garrett failed to land his first few options - and as the pressure of filling an open job in the middle of recruiting mounted -- he panicked and hired Kiffin, who wasn't anywhere near ready for a job of that magnitude.

A midseason firing worked for Florida in 2004, when the Gators got an early jump to eventually land Urban Meyer. It worked for Arizona two years ago, when it got first crack at then-unemployed Rich Rodriguez.

It will work for USC, too. In a matter of months, not days.

2. The Long and Short of it

Texas AD DeLoss Dodds has announced his retirement. All the pitchfork waving Orangebloods need now is president Bill Powers to walk away and the Mack Brown coup will be complete.

3. The Great Eraser

So I got to thinking the other day and came to the realization that Jameis Winston is so good, even Jimbo Fisher can't screw it up.

Jameis Winston is so good, his talent so undeniable, he can erase years of Florida State underachieving under Fisher as a double-digit favorite with a few flicks of his wrist.

Jameis Winston is so good, his impact so Johnny Manziel-esque, even the dazed look of Fisher on the sidelines when the 'Noles are in meltdown mode (and you know what look I'm talking about, Mr. Five Losses As Double Digit Favorite), has zero affect on the game's outcome.

"I've been around some good ones," said Boston College coach Steve Addazio, who was around a good one named Tebow for four years as an assistant at Florida. "He (Winston) is one of those rare, gifted talents that comes along and everyone stops to watch him."

Winston has a quarterback rating over 200 (209.5), has an incompletion to touchdown ratio of 2-to-1 (24 incompletions, 12 TDs), has completed 74 percent of his passes and is averaging an unthinkable 11.52 yards per attempt.

It should come as no surprise, then, that after Winston helped get FSU from a very FSU-under-Fisher 17-3 hole at Boston College to a big win, Fisher had this to say: "Let me say this now, I am glad (Winston) is on my team."

So are FSU fans, Jimbo. So are FSU fans.

4. Fight on, Chip

If I'm Pat Haden, and the Philadelphia Eagles do what it looks like the Eagles are going to do, I'm on the horn to Chip Kelly pronto.

And you know what? I don't care that Kelly's NCAA show cause penalty lasts until December 2014; I'd hire him with it -- the NCAA can't stop it, and you'll sustain one year of him not being able to recruit.

I mean, after you've traded middle fingers with the NCAA for the better part of seven years, what's an all-time suck it moment going to hurt?

5. The Weekly Five

He's one program away from five in a career (in less than a decade, no less), so it's only fitting we look at Todd Graham's five selling points for the USC job:

1. I can be there today.

2. I'll save on moving expenses; half my crap is still in storage.

3. Have I mentioned USC has always been my dream job?

4. Fear the Headset!

5. I won't overstay my welcome.

6. One month and growing

One third of the way into the college season, and we're breaking out the BCS conference rankings:

1. SEC

The heavyweights: Alabama, Georgia, LSU

The next level: Texas A&M, South Carolina, Florida

The juice: It's not the Big Six like it was in 2012, and LSU -- if it doesn't get the back end of its defense straightened out, may not last for long among the heavyweights. Still, top to bottom, the clear leader.

The juice: Is there any doubt now both Clemson and FSU can beat anyone on their schedule? Throw in Miami's dangerous offense -- don't be fooled by that ugly win vs. Florida; the Gators' defense is better than any in the nation -- and the ACC looks stout with each passing week.

The juice: There's just too much uncertainty after Ohio State. Michigan, the Big Ten's best option after the Buckeyes, looks lost on offense and doesn't scare anyone -- least of all, UConn, which just fired its coach. Maybe Iowa, which began the season with a loss to Northern Illinois, gets hot.

5. Big 12

The heavyweight: Oklahoma

The next level: Baylor, Oklahoma State

The juice: A big drop after OU and Baylor. Oklahoma State's loss at West Virginia was a big blow, and the league desperately needs Texas to reassert itself. We're still waiting for Texas Tech to play a game of significance.

6. American

The heavyweight: Louisville

The next level: None

The juice: There's no way around this for Louisville: the schedule is awful and the one game where the Cardinals could have made a semi-statement was uneventful. You're not turning heads with a 14-point win at Kentucky.

After a convincing win at Notre Dame last week, Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops has the Sooners looking like the Sooners. (AP Photo)

7. Normal in Norman again

You just know Bob Stoops wants to go all Bo Pelini on those fly-by-night Sooners who questioned (in no particular order) his team's toughness, his defensive philosophy, his staff's ability to develop a quarterback and his ability to win a big game.

Want a tougher team? How about one that's giving up 12 points per game (down from 25 last year). You want a defense that gets off the field? How about one that has shaved 100 yards off its per game average from last season -- with virtually the same personnel.

You want a staff that can develop a quarterback? How about one that chose a redshirt freshman (Trevor Knight) to start the season, and was smart enough to move to Blake Bell in Week 3 -- a guy groomed for the spot for three years before being losing out to Knight in fall camp.

You want a team that can win a big game? How about one that rolls into South Bend last weekend to play suddenly desperate Notre Dame, and wins big by forcing turnovers, protecting the ball and getting nearly perfect run-pass balance on offense?

Now that we all feel better about Stoops in Norman, let's chew on this tasty nugget: Stoops has 153 wins, and if everything goes as planned, he'll have 157 on that Thursday night in early November when the Sooners play at Baylor -- which also is headed toward that game as an unbeaten.

Think long and hard, everyone, before you answer this question: which game are you watching on that Thursday night?

8. A strange, surreal ride

Haven't had enough of the deflated balls and the jersey switches and the fabulous recruiting classes and uneven results. Have no fear, everyone, I have the answer.

Fresno State, his alma mater.

Let's face it, Tim DeRuyter isn't long for the Valley; he's a terrific coach who will soon be swooped up by a powerful BCS school. Once that happens, the Bulldogs will be on the market -- and when you're at the mid-major level, a guy that can recruit and bring players to a team is critical.

If there's one thing Kiffin can do, it's recruit.

The reality is, he never really paid his dues in the business. Al Davis wanted Steve Sarkisian for the Raiders job, but when Sark said no, Davis asked Sark about his pal Kiffin. We all know how that worked out.

Then came Tennessee, where athletic director Mike Hamilton, reeling after firing beloved coach Phil Fulmer, hired Kiffin based on one thing and one thing only: his ability to recruit (and his history of doing so at USC).

A year later, Pete Carroll suddenly left USC for the NFL, and USC AD Mike Garrett can't get any takers for his prime gig because who in the world would take that job where the NCAA hammer is getting ready to fall? Kiffin would, that's who.

And the next thing you know, Haden is pulling Kiffin off the team bus at LAX and ending a bizarre chapter in USC football.

9. Statement game

If Ohio State is ever going to make a memorable statement for every poll voter from Miami to Seattle and all points between, the Buckeyes better make it now.

That, or hope every BCS conference champion has at least one loss while they stroll the field of Marigolds that is the Big Ten.

Look, we can all fantasize about a Nick Saban vs. Urban Meyer matchup in national championship game, but Ohio State's resume will wilt in comparison to any other unbeaten champion from a Power 5 conference.

Last week's home victory over Wisconsin didn't help much (did you see that Buckeyes defense?), leaving Ohio State with another chance this week to impress on primetime national television. Now, the problem: Northwestern isn't exactly a sexy, standard heavyweight.

Still, Ohio State must win big and set the idea of what could be in the minds of voters. Because once we roll into November (and the games to remember), the Buckeyes will be dusting off Purdue, Illinois and Indiana and Michigan while every other contender will be dealing with significant games voters won't forget.

10. Boffo Beaver

And to think there was a quarterback controversy this offseason at Oregon State. Sean Mannion is only on pace to throw 52 touchdown passes.